"We want to acknowledge and champion the paths they’ve forged. Our vision is that The Coming Back Out Ball becomes an adored regular event on Melbourne’s social calendar."

Next month marks the return of The Coming Back Out Ball, which was last year inaugurated as a yearly celebration of our LGBTI elders.

Founded to empower members of the community aged 65 and over to assert their social agency, the Ball will return to Melbourne for a second year.

Artistic Director Tristan Meecham says the ball is a gift to the elders of Australia’s LGBTI community.

“LGTBI elders are able to attend the ball for free,” Meecham says.

“We want to acknowledge and champion the paths they’ve forged. Our vision is that The Coming Back Out Ball becomes an adored regular event on Melbourne’s social calendar.”

This year, The Coming Back Out Ball will feature entertainment, community celebration, and storytelling alongside a full dinner service – with performances from Briefs: Close Encounters, Meow Meow, Electric Fields and a special Coming Back Out Ball band.

The Ball was conceived as a way to support the social needs of the growing number of LGBTI elders whose significance in the community is too infrequently recognised.

All the Queens Men will also look to establish further social dance events to connect LGBTI elders in municipalities across Victoria, alongside the existing LGBTI Elders Dance Club which has run on a monthly basis in Fitzroy over the past three years and since expanded throughout regional Victoria.

About the AuthorLaurence Barber

Laurence is Star Observer's Arts & Culture Writer and Digital Co-ordinator. His background is in film, television and arts criticism with a focus on LGBTI representation in media. For jokes, commentary and actress GIFs, you can follow him on Twitter @bortlb.